CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 11080OZ FCO
TELNO 2293
OF 11080OZ SEPTEMBER 92
CONFIDENTIAL
MAR 024/1
pa. Gronisi TEO
70
020116
MDHIAN 8553
&H гOP COPY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
гop QDIST?
MIPT: MY VISIT TO LONDON.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE GOVERNOR, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL VISIT LONDON ON 15 SEPTEMBER FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND OTHER SENIOR MINISTERS AT HIS REQUEST.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID:
'FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG OVER THE
PAST TWO MONTHS, MR.PATTEN WANTS TO BRIEF MINISTERS ON THE MAJOR ISSUES ON THE HONG KONG AGENDA BEFORE HE FINALISES HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 7 OCTOBER'.
MR.PATTEN WILL TRAVEL TO LONDON ON THE EVENING OF 14 SEPTEMBER AND RETURN TO HONG KONG ON 16 SEPTEMBER.
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS:
DOES THIS MEAN THAT THERE IS DISAGREEMENT ABOUT MR. PATTEN'S PLANS QUERY.
NO. NONE AT ALL. MR.PATTEN HAS SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS LISTENING TO VIEWS IN HONG KONG. HE WANTS TO BRIEF MINISTERS ON HONG KONG OPINION AND TO CONSULT THEM BEFORE HE COMPLETES HIS PREPARATIONS FOR HIS OCTOBER 7 ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
WHY WAS THE TRIP ARRANGED AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE QUERY.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALWAYS HAD IT IN MIND TO GO TO LONDON AT AROUND THIS TIME. SPECIFIC DATE WAS DICTATED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S AND FOREIGN SECRETARY'S DIARY COMMITMENTS.
WHY NOW QUERY.
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